The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to summon two former permanent secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa, over a financial infraction amounting to N3,201,583,662.65 during their tenure.
This is as the committee has also issued a 72-hour ultimatum to four permanent secretaries to appear before it to respond to audit queries.
Chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun), who disclosed this on Monday, said the decision followed the failure of the concerned former government officials to honour invitations to answer query relating to financial infractions raised against them by the Report of the Auditor General of the Federation.
He said the committee had written seven letters to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, requesting its appearance, yet received no response or explanation for the absence.
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The committee decried the growing disregard for parliamentary oversight by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), accusing them of consistently ignoring invitations to respond to audit queries raised by the Auditor General of the Federation.
He further noted that the ministry failed to provide the necessary documents to clear itself of 32 audit queries from the 2020 audit report. “Although the auditor general had made specific recommendations, the committee extended multiple invitations to the ministry for a fair hearing—only to be repeatedly ignored,” he said.
Salam lamented that several MDAs have developed a habit of disregarding parliamentary summons, despite being accountable for public funds appropriated by the National Assembly.
He also highlighted growing public concern over the National Assembly’s ability to conduct effective oversight, emphasising that even the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had to issue a warning against non-compliant MDAs recently.
Given this pattern of disregard, he stated that Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa, who served as permanent secretaries when the financial infraction occurred, should be held responsible as the accounting officers at the time.
Additionally, the committee has given the current permanent secretary, Saliu Usman, 72 hours to appear before them and respond to seven audit queries from the 2021 financial year or risk having the committee uphold the auditor general’s recommendations against the ministry.
Other permanent secretaries, including Adeleye Ayodeji (Transportation), Mariam Keshero (Women Affairs), and Yakubu Adams Kofamata (Humanitarian Services), have also been summoned to appear within the same 72-hour deadline.
Salam emphasised the committee’s commitment to addressing outstanding audit queries from the 2020 and 2021 reports before the 2022 audit report is submitted in April.
At the investigative hearing, Emeka Chinedu, a committee member, voiced his concerns over the growing trend of non-compliance. He particularly noted that the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, a former house member, should understand the authority and workings of the National Assembly and ensure cooperation with its oversight functions.
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